Sojourner Truth

  Sojourner Truth was born in 1797. She was one of twelve children and her parents were James and Elizabeth Baumfree. Her father was from Ghana, and her mother was from Guinea. They worked on an estate in New York. In 1806, Sojourner was nine, and sold into slavery. She was sold two more times within the next years. She worked for John Dumont at West Park, New York, where she learned to speak English. Sojourner was told to marry an older slave, Thomas, and together they had one son and two daughters. 
        In 1799 New York began to start the Abolition of Slavery. All slaves became free people on July 4, 1827. Sojourner escaped in 1826 with one of her children, but later found out her one son was sold to a man in Alabama illegally. She went to court to fight for her son, she won and her son was returned. This was one of the first times a black woman charged a white man in court and won in the United States. 
      Truth converted to Christianity and moved with her son to New York in 1829. She worked as a house keeper for Elijah Pierson; when he died she was accused of poisoning him. In court she was found not guilty. Her son got a job on a whaling ship in Nantucket, she never heard from him again. 

    "I feel safe in the midst of my enemies, for the truth is all powerful and will prevail." 
                                           -Sojourner Truth
        
     Sojourner Truth devoted her life to the Abolition of slavery. She joined the Northampton Association of Educations and Industry in Northampton, MA. she lived in a community with other members, where she met many important Abolition leaders including, Frederick Douglass, William Lloyd Garrison, and David Ruggles. 
       In 1815 Sojourner toured with another abolitionist, George Thompson, and they spoke to many crowds about ending slavery. Her most important speech, at the first National Women's Rights Convection, in Worcester, MA. In May 1851, in Akron, Ohio Truth made a speech, "Ain't i a woman?' at the Ohio Woman's Rights Convention. This would be on print twelve years later and would be well known. 
      Truth worked with Marius Robinson, and became well known, which led to growing crowds. She wanted the abolition of slavery, political equality for all women, and spoke on civil rights. She helped recruit black troops for the union army during the Civil War. in 1864 she went to the National Freedman's Relief Association in Washington, D.C. there she spoke with President Abraham Lincoln. She work continuously to get the ability to own private property for African Americans, however she was unable to have Congress pass it.
     Sojourner Truth died on November 26, 1883 at her home in Battle Creek, Michigan. She is remembered as a leader for women's rights and the abolition movements. 

Works Cited: http://www.biography.com/people/sojourner-truth-9511284